Maker's Mark Distillery
Loretto, Kentucky distillery — the wheated-bourbon house founded 1953; the first US distillery designated a National Historic Landmark.
Maker's Mark Distillery, in Loretto, Kentucky, was founded by Bill Samuels Sr. in 1953 and produces a distinctive wheated bourbon — substituting wheat for rye in the mash bill (70% corn, 16% red winter wheat, 14% malted barley) to produce a softer, sweeter flavour profile. Each bottle is hand-dipped in the brand's signature red wax. The distillery is the first in the United States to have been designated a National Historic Landmark (1980), recognising both its preserved 19th-century distillery buildings and its role in the bourbon revival. Maker's Mark is owned by Beam Suntory and remains under the active leadership of the Samuels family across three generations.
Quick facts
- Type
- Distillery History
- Region
- Kentucky
- Era
- 1953–present
- Origin
- Loretto, Kentucky, United States
Wheated Mash Bill
Bill Samuels Sr.'s 1953 mash bill replaced rye with red winter wheat — a deliberate stylistic decision to produce a softer, sweeter bourbon than the traditional Kentucky norm. Samuels developed the recipe by baking loaves of bread with different grain mixes to evaluate flavour. The wheated bourbon style is shared by Maker's Mark with W.L. Weller, Pappy Van Winkle, Larceny, and the Rebel Yell line.
National Historic Landmark Designation
Maker's Mark was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1980 — the first US distillery to receive the designation. The recognition covers both the preserved 19th-century buildings (the original distillery on the site dates to 1805) and the distillery's role in the post-Prohibition bourbon industry's revival.
Sources & further reading (1)
- encyclopedia — accessed 2026-05-15
Frequently asked questions
What is wheated bourbon?
Wheated bourbon substitutes wheat for rye as the small-grain (non-corn, non-barley) component of the mash bill. Wheat produces a softer, sweeter character compared with rye's spice. Maker's Mark, W.L. Weller, Pappy Van Winkle, Larceny, and Rebel Yell are wheated bourbons; most other bourbons are rye-based.